Could you elevate your Approach with a Solid Plan from the Experts?

Challenge the status quo by asking yourself: Is your current additive manufacturing plan truly optimized, and how can you elevate it to new heights of success? 

Please prepare for enlightening insights as our experts share their valuable knowledge.

You'll hear from 4 expert panelists:

• Carl Douglass, CEO, DI Labs
• Brian Douglass, COO, DI Labs
• David Rosendahl, President & Co-Founder, MindFire Inc
• Kevin Carr, President, MasterGraphics

In this session, our panelists will analyze and exchange insights on:

1. How embracing Additive Manufacturing can reshape your product development approach, fostering agility and sparking creative ingenuity.
2. Why having a structured process for product development through Additive Manufacturing is not just advantageous, but essential.
3. How aligning your additive manufacturing strategies with your business goals can drive growth, boost efficiency, and amplify your competitive edge.

Whether you're a business owner, product manager, or industry professional, this webinar offers valuable insights and practical strategies for anyone seeking to enhance their additive manufacturing prowess.

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What you'll learn...

Uncover the transformative power of 3D printing in our webinar.  Learn how it drives revenue growth, revolutionizes product development, and enhances the customer experience.  Unlock the immense potential of 3D printing for growth and innovation in your business.

You'll hear from:

• David Tucker, Business Development Consultant, New Wave Manufacturing
• Carl Douglass, CEO, Di Labs
• Kevin Carr, President, MasterGraphics
• David Rosendahl, President, MindFire Inc., Moderator

In this session, our panelists break it all down and discuss:

1. What the terminology "solutionologist" means.
2. How to leverage additive manufacturing through a product development process beyond simple prototyping.
3. Where they see the largest opportunity for additive in developing new product portfolios.
4. David explains his customized innovation workshops that empower customers to maximize the potential of additive manufacturing.
5. The term, "creating a digital product portfolio", really means.

In the webinar, we addressed attendee questions on the potential and impact of additive manufacturing in manufacturing and businesses, while also exploring solutions to address customer challenges.

Watch this webinar recording now to start off on the right foot and get answers to questions you may have or may have not even thought of!

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What you’ll learn…  

In the third panel discussion of our three-part series, you’ll get answers to key questions from three additive manufacturing leaders who don’t shy away from the truth and have critical insights to share.  

You’ll hear from:  

• Kevin Carr, President, MasterGraphics
• David Tucker, Business Development Consultant, New Wave Manufacturing
• Michael Rosplock, Manager of Digital Manufacturing, Enerpac
• David Rosendahl, President, MindFire Inc., Moderator  

In this session, our panelists break it all down and discuss what is needed to leverage best-in-class 3D Print manufacturing processes with these five considerations:

1] Why it is imperative to write an effective proposal to convince the required executives and the technical team that new 3D print technology is a worthy investment. The need to justify the expenditure. 

2] The importance of designating a project lead and the value they bring to achieving effective implementation. 

3] The project leader's ability to focus on part development that leverages the additive manufacturing cell effectively. 

4] The need for understanding the proper AM cell setup and the expected production processes. 

5] The key to success also includes focusing on the factory blueprint layout that outlays the physical workflow from print to finish.

Watch this webinar recording now to start off on the right foot and get answers to questions you may have, or may have not even thought of!

If you’re like most businesses, you’ve got numerous questions about additive manufacturing—perhaps even a few misconceptions, too. You’re wondering: 

• Why should I be excited about adopting additive manufacturing?
• Can it really provide a competitive advantage?
• How would it help solve my customer challenges?
• What if it doesn’t work for me?

We created this webinar to answer these questions and many more.  

In the first of our three-panel discussions, you’ll hear from additive manufacturing leaders who will answer these questions and MORE—all from their own experience. How they started. What they learned. What mistakes to avoid.
You’ll hear from:

• Peter Koostra, Director of Engineering, RE3DTECH
• Kevin Carr, President, MasterGraphics
• David Rosendahl, President, MindFire Inc., Moderator

Watch the webinar recording now to gain insights into:  

• The unexpected reasons organizations are adopting additive manufacturing for a competitive advantage
• How companies start their additive journey (often through diversification), and the surprising lessons learned along the way
• Which approach to additive manufacturing doesn’t work
• Answers to questions that our webinar attendees had about expanding solutions to customers’ challenges 

Affordable SLS Face-Off

Full disclosure that I run a business that resells Sinterit 3D printers, however, know going into this at the end both systems earn high praise.  The reason I wanted to write this is that I believe both these systems are revolutionary and open 3D print applications that until their introductions were not obtainable without 100K plus in investment.  When you figure in all the needed support solutions for these SLS printers, the price to fully implement both these systems are around 30-35K.

The FUSE 1 printer is $18,499 and Lisa X $21,900 however, this is before adding post-processing equipment, material management solutions, etc... Know going into this, that you will need the right workflow to effectively implement the printers.  It also must be noted that the Lisa X was introduced in 2022 to expand Sinterit's portfolio from the Lisa Pro.

Sinterit states the Lisa X is 10X faster than the Lisa Pro.

Whether you are a prototype shop, manufacturing support, or product development, SLS at this price is game-changing. 

                   Fuse 1                                                                          Lisa X

First note — both use Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology.  SLS is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology that uses a high-power laser to sinter small particles of polymer powder into a solid structure based on a 3D model. SLS 3D printing has been a popular choice for engineers and manufacturers for decades.  Low cost per part, high productivity, and established materials make the technology ideal for a range of applications from rapid prototyping to small-batch, bridge, or custom manufacturing.

Until the launch of these products, if you needed strong parts at a lower investment point most users leveraged Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) or Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF).  The advantage of SLS is in most cases the printing is faster, the parts are stronger isotopically.  Additionally, the SLS printing process most notably discards the need for support material (as there is unsintered powder all around the object being printed) facilitating the creation of complex and interlocking forms and allowing the packing of parts in a print "box" to increase throughput 10-20X faster than FDM/FFF.  There are of course high-end FDM machines that increase speed but when comparable price points, these units bring capability in-house never attainable before.

Comparison 1: Build Chamber Size
Lisa X: 13" x 7.1" x 5.1"
Fuse 1: 11.8" x 6.5" x 6.5"
Overall, build volume very similar

Comparison 2: Materials
Lisa X: 9 materials - variations of nylon (11 & 12), TPE, and TPU, ESD powder
Fuse 1: 2 materials - Nylon 12 and Nylon 11
Lisa X has a wider range of materials — however, the Fuse runs the most common SLS materials. One additional note, Lisa X has the ability to hook up gas to improve the output of materials such as PA11.

Comparison 3: Price
Lisa X: $21,900
Fuse 1: $18,499
As mentioned above, once you add the needed support equipment both systems range between 30-35K

Comparison 4: Speed
Lisa X: Full Build at 11% Density — est. 35 hours (with cooling)
Fuse 1: Full Build at 11% Density — est. 49 hours (with cooling) 
Lisa X excels and can be upwards of 30% faster.  When you increase your pack density the difference becomes greater.  The real note, is the speeds 10-20X times faster than tabletop FDM/FFF printers.

Comparision 5: Print quality — PA12
Lisa X: Very good quality SLS parts with nice surface finish, strong thin walls.
Fuse 1: Very good quality SLS parts with very good mini hole features.
Once again, both systems offer a high-quality part for the price point and nice output.  A true step up from FDM/FFF.

                                    
                     Fuse 1 Part                                                        Lisa X Part

Comparison 6: Part Cost PA12
Lisa X:  $ 150kg
Fuse 1: $ 100kg

The Lisa X is more expensive for material but due to its higher refresh ratio, the operating cost for both systems is similar.  The Lisa X is an open system so you have more flexibility to use different media to possibly reduce your cost.

In the end, they are both viable and very good systems.  If you are running multiple desktop FDM units and/or outsourcing SLS parts, this could be your ticket to a faster turnaround time.  I would also assume reduce your overall cost as well. There are some additional differences so I encourage you to do your research more and for Lisa X we can certainly help you understand its strengths and weaknesses better.

These are game-changing — take the time to look closer. 

If you want more information on the unit, feel free to visit us at www.mastergraphics.com or contact me directly at kevin.carr@mastergraphics.com

Over the years, there have been many myths about 3D printing. One of these myths is that it would completely replace injection molding or CNC.  While 3D printing is capable of an incredible range of applications, it doesn't have to replace everything you're currently leveraging.  3D printing serves as a flexible and innovative supplement to your existing technology.

Are you curious about what the actual use cases for 3D printing are and how you can leverage them and get optimal results?

Here's your chance to find out!

Experts from leading 3D manufacturing companies such as MasterGraphics, Re3DTech, Graco, and Enerpac will come together to share their knowledge and secret recipes for success.

Throughout the webinar, the keynote speakers will share with you:

The benefits of introducing more 3D parts into your company mix.
How additive manufacturing can improve your supply chain.
Actual case studies on how people utilize 3D printing for TRUE Additive Manufacturing.

You'll also get a chance to meet and network with seasoned professionals.  

I almost can't believe I am writing this but I just got back from attending my first live conference since the COVID pandemic hit us!  I was fortunate enough to attend the 2021 Additive Manufacturing Users Conference (AMUG) where the leading users of additive gather to share their knowledge, expertise, and updates on best-in-class additive manufacturing processes.  There is too much to share in just one blog so I will have more follow-up blogs but wanted to start with what the experts noted as the trends they saw in 2020.  In one of the sessions, industry leaders outlined what they believe will be the next areas of success around 3D print in 2021.  Here are my notes from what was presented...

BASF - Noted that they are seeing more traditional injection molding companies looking to leverage additive manufacturing and leveraging 3D print to augment their traditional services.  Historically because of the volume and material needs that injection molders require they have been slower to adopt Additive Manufacturing technologies but BASF believes advancement in materials and throughput will increase the adoption.

www.forward-am.com

DMG Mori - Stated they believe automation around 3D print, enhanced reliability, and improved quality assurance processes will be key for additive.   Much like the notes above from BASF, they believe adoption will also increase as the materials improve for both metal and composites.  In addition, more hybrid systems will be leveraged to take advantage of both traditional and new manufacturing technologies.

www.dmgmori.com

Dyndrite - Believes that software solutions have lagged 3D print technology and 2021 will be the year software makes a big step forward to catch up.  With the explosion of manufacturing data, software will need to be developed to run 3D printers more efficiently, quickly and to leverage data better.  The need for technology-agnostic front ends will be another improvement as manufacturers will leverage various 3D print technologies.  

www.dyndrite.com

Essentium - Predicts the continued rise of full-scale production, improved leveraging of 3D print for supply chain resiliency, and the development of materials to solve specific applications versus a general material solution.  The trend for true additive manufacturing that occurred in 2020 will continue into 2021.

www.essentium.com

ExOne - Beyond just the overall desire for 3D metal parts, they see the demand for more metal materials will increase along with the desire to implement additive processes to satisfy green initiatives. There will also be a continued leveraging for metal print for light-weighting and part consolidation.  Metal certainly has a strong future.

www.exone.com

Take these as my notes and I encourage you to visit each of their websites to see what they are focused on.  Overall I believe the message was consistent, it's not only about the print technology but the processes utilized both before and after printing.  Design processes and technologies will continue to evolve to better leverage and prepare data for printing.  The post finishing processes will be improved to support a true manufacturing process for both producing parts in quantity but with quality assurance.  Throw in materials development and I believe 2021 will be another step forward to true additive manufacturing.  

As always, if any of the directions I noted above resonate with you (or does not) please reach out as I am always curious to hear real-world feedback.

Lastly, I encourage you to check out the Additive Manufacturing User Group - www.amug.com
The Additive Manufacturing Users Group's origins date back to the early 1990s when the founding industry users group called 3D Systems North American Stereolithography User Group.  Today, AMUG educates and supports users of all additive manufacturing technologies.  If you are at all involved in 3D around production, this is a group you should support and join.

Are you struggling to produce consistent results on parts dyed from HP’s Multi Jet Fusion printer? The last step in many users of HP 3D’s technology is to dye the parts so the final result is a deep black – well colored part.   Often, we see various set ups such as crock pots or large pots on burners to dye parts black from the various HP 3D printers. We see this system also in place for dyeing SLS parts. A typical example is below. Over time this process gets messy, time consuming, and provides inconsistent results.

Until recently, the current option for automated dyeing was DyeMansion’s DM60. This unit is the Rolls-Royce of dyeing. We have sold this technology for the last few years and truly has been game changing when you talk true Additive Manufacturing being implemented with high standards and measurable output. The DM60 uses a scientific process teamed with a unique dye system to produce unmatched final parts with repeatable and exact dye results – including color. The DyeMansion has a fit.

But…..what if your budget or process does not call for such an exact dye and your main goal is to replace that large pot dying process? Enter OmegaSonics…they are known for their ultrasonic cleaners but have developed a dye tank specifically to dye parts from HP MJF’s technology. The HP 1818 Dye Tank. The biggest advantage of the Omegasonics solutions? The unit starts at $ 14,995! The time saving and part quality improvements make the ROI on the system less than 12 months – in my opinion of course.

We had a client test the beta unit and have used it for over 5 months with great success. They had previously used a messy pot set up and now have an automated dye process with better results. You can view a video we created of the beta unit using the link below. I want to make sure to note that the final production unit has black outer panels (yes some dye will still cause a mess😊) and the mesh basket shipping with the unit has a finer mesh to hold smaller parts than the beta unit. You can view our video here:

Lastly, let me outline some of the key features:

• Price – I had to mention that again because at 15K the unit is very affordable.
• Adjustable Heat - Heat up to 200°F with simple – easy to use controls
  
  
• Robust pump - The key feature of the unit (besides the heated vat) is the circulation of the dye.  This is accomplished with a durable Ryton pump.
• Large volume capable - Basket is 14" x14" x 15"
• Overall Build Quality of Unit - Not only is the unit built with high quality, strong materials, it is on casters for portability.
• Dyed Parts Results - One of the challenges typical pot dying has is under sides of parts are not dyed as well as the side.  Envision the part sitting on the bottom of the pot.  With the circulation of the dye, the final parts have consistent dyed surface on all sides.
• Throughput - The HP1818 Dye Tank increase the number of parts you can dye in a given time.

As many of you know, the hidden challenge of 3D printing is finishing processes. We are excited to see manufacturers such as OmegaSonics entering the 3D post processing equipment game. I believe this system will be sold with a majority of HP’s 4200 and 5200 series printers.

If you want more information on the unit, feel free to visit us at www.mastergraphics.com or contact me directly at kevin.carr@mastergraphics.com

How to print your own Covid posters on your HP plotter (wide-format printer)

Companies are spending a lot of money to purchase signage for social distancing, mask requirements, and best hygiene practices. We see this signage every day as we enter a new normal with stores and companies needing to outline their regulations. Often this signage is outsourced but amazingly many businesses can utilize their existing assets – such an HP DesignJet plotter – to create their own signage and utilize specialty media for different applications.

Let’s start with the basics on how to create a sign. You don’t need to be graphic designer to create a sign, the signs are all about communication not marketing. The more concise and direct the better. You can simply use PowerPoint to create signs and use a standard windows print driver to enlarge the output for poster printing. Most Windows drivers are fairly straight forward and easy to us. Simply select the poster size you want – such as 24” x 26” – configure the output to scale to fit and your design will output on a poster size sheet of paper.

In addition, there are free tools and resources to leverage your existing plotter technology.  Below is information on HP's free poster application. This is an example of a template available.

After creation you can also utilize specialty media. In most cases you can simply print on stand bond – paper – and attach to walls with two sided tape. However, most users don’t know that there is specialty media from vendors such as Canon/Oce that actually have adhesive back for adhering to different surfaces.   Be careful, the adhesive back can be both permanent and removable. Know your application before choosing media. You can simply create, print, peel off the backing, and apply.

One example of an adhesive back material is Canon’s OPPOLYPS. Yes that’s the official SKU! It’s a 6.6 mil Polypropylene Film with Permanent Pressure Sensitive Adhesive.   OPPOLYPS is a 6.6 mil economical, water resistant polypropylene film with permanent, pressure sensitive adhesive.   You can print on it with thermal (most inkjet plotters) or piezo water based inkjet printers. The backside PSA will simplify the mounting and installation process and the water resistant coating means you do not have to laminate when using pigment inks.

Want to learn about other medias?  You can visit Canon’s site for reference at: Canon Plotter Media Selector. You can also visit MasterGraphics’ eStore.   Simply input your plotter model in the left side drop down selection, and see the applicable media for your device. Even though we resell Canon media, the material is applicable to most plotters by various manufacturers.  Plotter Media Selector

If you don't see what you need or want guidance, feel free to contact us at 866-914-9610 or email us at customerservice@mastergraphics.com.

As always, if you have any question or input, don't hesitate to reach out to me at kevin.carr@mastergraphics.com